New Curtin dorms to ease housing squeeze

Curtin University is hoping to ease the daunting task regional high school leavers face when looking for accommodation in Perth.

With the rental vacancy rate at 0.9 per cent — just over half the rate in Geraldton — it’s never been harder to find a place, let alone one close to uni.

More than 900 places will be made available from 2022 in Curtin’s two new residential buildings, the 407-room St Catherine’s College and the 10-storey, 517-bed Twin Dolphin Hall.

“Curtin will be able to offer the incredible benefits of on-campus living to young people, particularly those from rural, regional and remote areas,” vice-chancellor Professor Harlene Hayne said.

Following the American college model, both residences will feature a dining hall, with the option of including meals in the rent.

The two buildings will be part of a bigger complex known as Exchange. It will include 3000sqm of retail space, a grocery shop and a hotel which will accommodate travelling families, academics and industry experts. All up, the project is slated to cost $300 million.

The university is offering incentives to entice the first cohort.

Those admitted to St Catherine’s College will receive $7500 towards residential fees, while Twin Dolphin Hall residents will get a 50 per cent rent reduction.

According to a University of Newcastle report released earlier this year, regional students were more likely to live on-campus than not, chasing a “surrogate small-town feeling.” Students living on-campus reported higher levels of satisfaction than those in private rentals. However, some reported getting caught up in party culture, negatively affecting their study.